Delusion and Impotence: Jair Bolsonaro’s Rising Authoritarianism in the Wake of COVID-19

By: Megan Sieroka

Since the beginning of COVID-19 in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, the current President, was quick to dismiss scientific evidence and strengthen his authoritarian rule. As of March 24th, 2021, Brazil has 12.2 million cases and 301,087 deaths due to COVID-19. According to the Global Health Index, Brazil is ranked 22 out of 195 countries in overall preparedness for disease outbreaks. Despite Brazil’s preparedness, the country currently has the highest number of cases across South America, and the third-highest number of cases globally.

A primary reason for this division between preparedness and response can be attributed to the rise in authoritarianism as a result of COVID-19. Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and extended his authoritarian rule. Large outbreaks with low response have led to widespread criticism that President Bolsonaro is the greatest threat to Brazil. COVID-19 has exacerbated Brazil’s rising authoritarianism through an analysis of Bolsonaro’s suppression of opposition voices, undercutting of public health measures, and preexisting authoritarian tendencies prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bolsonaro is controlling information on the COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil through the dismissal of adversaries. For example, following an interview on April 16th, 2020, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, Brazil’s Health Minister, was fired by Bolsonaro because of his criticism of the government’s response to the emerging health crisis. Mandetta was replaced with Health Minister Nelson Teich, who resigned one month after his appointment to the position due to public health policy disagreements between him and Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro’s response was to hire Army General Eduardo Pazuello, who has no medical or health experience. Bolsonaro’s suppression of opposition opinions and forces has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and has undoubtedly caused the increasingly worrying COVID-19 statistics. Bolsonaro has used the pandemic as a cover to extend his powers and eliminate dissent.

In conjunction with Bolsonaro’s suppression of adversarial opinions, the President has continuously disseminated misinformation through social media and mainstream media. In March, 2020, following the first reports of the virus, Bolsonaro dismissed the virus as being a fantasy created by the media. Moreover, Bolsonaro spoke in an interview in early May wherein he likened COVID-19 to the flu or a common cold. As of June, the government ceased reporting on COVID-19 statistics and death counts. Bolsonaro stated that the COVID-19 figures were inaccurate because they were overrepresenting the total cases. Bolsonaro’s dismissal of the severity of the virus aligns with his belief that a lockdown will cause an economic crisis. Bolsonaro has placed the importance of politics and the economy over the health and livelihoods of his citizens.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the growing authoritarianism in Brazil that has predated the pandemic. Following Bolsonaro’s election in 2018, his leadership style emphasized traditional family values and the importance of economic growth. Bolsonaro’s prioritization of the economy led to reduced expenditure on public health and social services. He has continuously lowered spending on social services and grown his top-down authoritarian approach. Bolsonaro’s tragic leadership has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and weakened the ability of the country to respond effectively to crises.

Bolsonaro's popularity continues to crumble across Brazil. Since October, Bolsonaro’s government popularity slumped to 32.9 percent from an existing 41.2 percent. Moreover, the poll showed a rise in disapproval ratings from Bolsonaro’s performance as president — with disapproval ratings at 51.4 percent. This trend is predicted to continue in the coming months as Brazilians continue to lose faith in their leadership.

Brazil has been ravaged by Bolsonaro’s increasing authoritarianism reflected in his dismissal of adversaries, denial of the virus’s severity, and absence of public health expenditure. Bolsonaro rose to power in widespread corruption and has since enhanced the institutional fragility of the state. In response to Bolsonaro’s negligible authoritarian response to the virus, favelas across Brazil have developed community leadership to fend for themselves. COVID-19 has weakened political accountability in countries across the globe. Brazil is not alone in its rising authoritarianism in response to COVID-19 but rather represents a wider trend globally. In the months to come, Brazil, like many other countries around the world, will struggle to cope with deficient authoritarian leaders.